MARKET IN THE CHURCH!
And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the
temple, and overthrew the tables of the money–changers, and the seats of them that sold the
doves; and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer:
but ye make it a den of robbers.
(Mat 21:12-13 RV)
These words continue to sound in the church but this time, instead of the people heeding and changing their ways for real ministry to occur, it appears we are deaf to the warnings of God. My father’s house has been turned into a den of thieves. The newest trend in the church is “anointing for sale”. Just as it was in Jerusalem 2000 years ago, it is happening in the house of God in our times too. In those days, doves, sheep, coins and other objects were sold in the temple to worshippers who had come to worship and sacrifice. These days, there are handkerchiefs, bottles of olive oil (sometimes vegetable cooking oil), water, porridge and other items. These are sold for miracles, healing, goodwill and favor. Some “men of God” justify this commerce by tagging it with sanctimonious names like offertory, voluntary contribution and harvest. This is preposterous! How can offertory be the price for miracles? Now there are categories of commercial miracles. You pay the highest price, you get audience with the “man of God”. There are now special sitting places and sometimes special thrones for the highest contributors in the church. If you are a poor church member, then you better find a seat at the back and forget about getting to meet the “man of God” for at least a few months.
Worse still, some ‘men of God” now parade around with bodyguards, full security details and executive entourages. People who need counseling, teaching and advice are turned away for either not being popular enough or rich enough to pay the mandatory “voluntary offertory”. The free gift of God is now cash and carry. We have shut down God’s insurance scheme.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised,
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
(Luk 4:18-19 RV)
Do we not realize that we are committing a great sin? Don’t we realize God is not pleased?
James 2:1-5, says
My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing;
and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;
are ye not divided in your own mind, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
The gift of God is free. He gave us His son to set us free from the constrictions and restrictions of sin. He again gave us his spirit to counsel, teach and remind us of his teachings. We did not deserve this gift. He gave freely and commanded us to do same. If anyone asks or seeks to purchase the gift of God with money, the person commits a grave sacrilege.
Remember, the incident between Peter and Simon of Samaria?
Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.
For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.
And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.
(Act 8:18-24 RV)
These days some “men of God” do not care whether you are right with God or not. So far as your donations are big enough and your offertory is fat enough, you are appointed a deacon of church or an elder. Such sacrilege. Such utter disregard for the things of God. These men of questionable profession are welcomed and exalted in our churches, simply because they give the biggest contributions during fundraisings and harvests. Paul had this to say to Titus.
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;
if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.
For the bishop must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;
but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, just, holy, temperate;
holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.
(Tit 1:5-9 RV)
But what do we see in the church today. Oh. Father! Have mercy on your children
It is time to rise. Brethren let us arise and shine. We cannot continue to turn the house of our king into a den of robbers.
Finally Jesus says,
He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.
Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
(Rev 22:11-14 RV)
May God bless these words in your heart. Amen.
Samuel Tinagyei
17/01/11
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